The Hindu Business Line : Mumbai port terminal: Ten players get security clearance

ALMOST all players, including Evergreen Marine, Mitsui OSK, P&O Ports and AP Moller Finance SA, are on board for bidding for the offshore container terminal of Mumbai Port Trust with the security clearance for 10 out of 11 interested companies already in place with the port authorities.

The port authorities are yet to get a communication on the security clearance for Hutchison Port Holdings from the Central Government. However, the last date for accepting bids for offshore container terminal in the Mumbai Port Trust has been shifted to February 10 from January 9.

A security clearance was sought for bidders aiming to build and operate the container terminal keeping in view the close proximity of the proposed terminal to the naval base in Mumbai.

The security clearance for Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine was communicated to the Mumbai Port about two to three days ago, according to a senior official of the Mumbai Port Trust. The project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,228 crore, involves setting up two offshore container berths with a total length of 700 metres, that will help handle vessels with 6,000 TEU containers.

"The Centre had advised us to shift the deadline for accepting bids to February 10," the official said. On whether any company or consortium has submitted its bid as yet, the official replied in the negative. He added that the port had indicated to the bidders last week about the possibility of a shift in deadline.

It is learnt that the Committee of Secretaries had taken a decision to accord security clearance to Hutchison Ports and Evergreen Marine. Senior officials told Business Line that the Ministry of Shipping is yet to get a formal approval letter informing it of the security clearance accorded to Hutchison Port as per "official procedure from the competent authorities."

Those whose security clearance has been accorded include Mitsui OSK, L&T Ltd P&O Ports, consortium of United Liner Agencies of India Pvt Ltd and SSLA GmbH, Germany; consortium of Gammon India, Gammon Infrastructure and Dragados of Italy, ABG Heavy Industries and ILFS, Dubai Port International, Evergreen Marine, Adani Exports and AP Moller Finance SA. While L&T has been accorded the clearance as an individual entity, it has to bid with a player with prior experience in port management, for which it has tied up with Hutchison.